LADIES’ GOLF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1364, 15 June 1916, Page 22

LADIES’ GOLF.

Auckland. The Members of the Auckland Ladies’ Golf Club played the June medal match on June 6. The senior grade was won by Miss M. Payton (96 —11—85); the junior by Miss P. Gorrie (108 —21 —87); and the C grade, over a 12-hole course, by Miss R. Spencer (87 —35 —52). The tie in the junior grade in the captain’s prize match was won by Miss P. Gorrie. The first round of an American tournament will be played this week. The conditions are: —Match play, partners to be drawn for; entrance fee Is. The entrance fees will go to the Navy Relief Fund. * * * * Red Cross Fund. Amount previously acknowledged, £25 25.; Wanganui, £2 Is.; Christchurch, 175.; Thames, 12s. 6d.; Johnsonville, 10s.; Wellington, £2; Miramar, £1 55.; Hagley, 175.; total, £33 4s. 6d. ♦ * * « Coronation Medal. Owing to delay on the part of some clubs in sending in their returns, the result of this competition cannot be pub! shed this week. * * * :;c Manawatu. The June monthly medal matches resulted as follows: —A grade: Mrs. Mcßae, 106 —22 —84; B grade: Miss Orbell, 110 —25 —85; Junior: Miss B. Loughnan, 105 —4—lol. ♦ * * * Napier. The qualifying round of the Napier Ladies’ Golf Club championship was played at the Waiohiki links on June Bth. The following are the results: — Miss M. Hindmarsh (101, Mrs. Murray (104), Miss C. Hindmarsh (106), Miss Heale (107), Miss Kettle (110), Miss E. Brown (111), Mrs. Smith (114), Miss Balfour (114). * * * * Dunedin. The members of the Otago Ladies’ Club played their first match for the season on June 6. The day was a delightful one for golf, and the game was thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part. Some of the players for the silver L.G.U. medal were: Mrs. Mackie, Misses Theomin, L. Roberts, N. Glendining, H. Black and Fynmore. The best scores were: Miss K. Black, 100 —20 —80; V. Fynmore, 102 —19 — 83; N. Glendining, 103 —17 —86; and Miss Roberts, 103 —17 —86. In the bronze division, Mesdames Gilray and Bakewell and the Misses M. Law, I. Todd, Jamieson and Ogston gave in cards, the best being that of Mrs. Bakewell, 119 —33 —86. Very little golf has been played lately, but it is hoped that the matches will be better attended now that some of the

playing members have returned from their holidays. Only one score was forwarded to Mrs. Mellsop for the Coronation Medal, that of Mrs. Mackie, 104—17—87. The winter conditions of the links began about six weeks ago, so we don’t expect to have as good scores for this match as those players in the North Island, the heaviness of the greens and the absence of run on the balls altering one’s play until one has had some practice. The 18th hole will be shortened until the end of the year from a five bogey to four, as the green proper is being built up and a lot of work is being put on to it to make a first-class green. This will necessitate our par being altered from 81 to 80.

Women Golfers With Graceful Style. This is an extract from some comments on ladies’ play, by Miss Teacher, an English lady professional, that may be of some service: — “There is no more pleasing sight on the links than a woman golfer with a graceful style. She may get the length of Braid or Ray or Blacwell —she may not be able to emulate Vardon’s beautiful brassey and push shots, or Taylor’s uncanny approach, or his low drive, that now, as 20 years ago, seems principally troubled by direction posts —but she gives one a sensuous enjoyment of wonderfully utilised strength — a strength which seems so little commensurate with the results achieved; a skill which overcomes physical incapacity and which gives the onlooker twice the pleasure induced by the exercise of mere brute force. But having said that, let us boldly face the other side. To begin, as most people do, at the wrong end. let us consider the style of the average woman’s drive. Allowing for differences in physique, we see the same kind of faults as in the ordinary amateur, but with an especial feminine addition, of overswinging, and what one can only call floppiness. The average man amateur tries to force the ball away with too little wrist control, too much body and arm effort. The average woman does not so much force the ball away as swoops it away, with often a gratuitous curtsey thrown in as well. If it is necessary to make this criticism; of the ordinary woman’s driving, what must be said of her iron play? Here one would be inclined to say 99 per cent, are grievous sinners, taking a full body swing, losing crispness and control and also length, because an iron must be played with the wrists and arms to obtain any really satisfactory results. Even amongst good players one sees this same weakness. They may drive strength for strength as well or even better than their brothers

and cousins—they may putt (especially if the putt needs little consideration of slopes and borrowings) with consistent excellence —but in playing up to the hole, those controlled half cleek half or three-quarter iron shots, which are of the very essence of fine golf, then fail again and again. It is just a repetition of the cause of the superiority of the professional over the amateur player. As the professional excels the amateur, so the man excels the woman in this respect. It is the weakest point in a man’s golf, and shows the cause of his other failures because here it is so much more obvious —lack of control from the wrist in the first place, and a consequent unsteadiness and loss of command of club and ball.”